Running Records for Classroom Teachers

I didn't expect to read Marie Clay's book on running records and come away feeling as confident as I did. Her system is simple, elegant, and adaptable. Also, the book is like 80 pages long, so it's something you can re-read often and master quickly. Recommended for Reading Teachers, English Teachers, and teachers who work with younger students.Note: From experience, I've found that Clay's system doesn't work well for stronger readers. I hesitate to say "adolescent," because I've worked with my fair share of adolescents whose reading level is closer to early primary schoolchildren, but I've also worked with primary children who read like you'd expect and adolescent to. The nature of the running record system doesn't lend itself to fast and very accurate (<5% miscues) readers, and it doesn't lend itself to longer, more adult works. However, it may be still remain a useful tool.

Nice book for a good price. Pages are clear and durable

Thanks!

I've read several books on the topic of Running Records. I found this one to be just okay. In addition to being very brief, I took issue with her statement that one should "Avid the use of a tape-recorder." All the other sources I have read actually encourage this practice, especially with older and struggling readers. In fact, Vacca, Vacca, Gove, Burkey, Lenhart, and McKeon recommend that "To ensure accurate coding, tape-record the student's reading. you can then replay the student's reading to check whether all errors are recorded accurately." They further explain that it can allow the teacher the freedom to watch behaviors more closely, and can assist with documenting student retell. So while Clay calls tape-recording a "crutch," other's see it as an aid when listening and analyzing good readers, who tend to go to fast for the record-taker, and the struggling readers, who tend to make multiple and complex miscues situations. Her theory and suggestions may be good for beginning readers, but would be difficult for others.

This is an essential tool for any teacher that teaches reading at any level. For a beginning teacher or student teacher it is the best running record explanation available with great reproducible pages for future running records. This book clearly explains how to administer a running record, how to record results, and what they mean. It is also a great "reminder tool" for teachers that are already familiar with the concept.

This should be on every primary language arts teacher's personal shelf. Many college level courses include this as a required read, rightfully so. Clay gives us a practical way to evaluate students immergent in reading or those decoding, and developing in fluency. Highly Recommended.

It is a very short book and I was hoping for more handout pages.

The content is from one of Marie Clays earlier books used by Reading Recovery teachers. It is a nice resource to have and use if you aren't familiar with running records and miscue analysis.

very informative

Clear and concise

:)